McGee+Associates offers basic and advanced media interview training to individuals and small groups. Programs are tailored to client needs and training is geared to the individual as much as possible. Our approach is to surface and build on the strengths of the participants, not to try to radically change them or try to teach them information they are unlikely to retain.

Role-play with video playback and coaching are fundamental to the learning process. Realistic media interview scenarios are employed to give clients an opportunity to tell their stories and deliver key messages.

Media Training Session Objectives

At the end of the session participants should be able to:

Manage a media interview to ensure:

their objectives for the interview are achieved; and

their main messages are communicated effectively.

Feel comfortable participating in interviews.

Identify their own strengths to build on and weaknesses to work on.

Expected Skill Development

Interaction preparation

Managing the interaction process

Performing

Program Preparation

Participants are provided a pre-read document on the basics of media interaction.

Participants are asked to complete a questionnaire in advance of the training session to equip the trainer with critical information to tailor the training to the needs of the individual.

In the session, participants are provided an interview scenario based on the questionnaire information (e.g., your local paper would like to interview you on (blank) subject, segment).

Session Structure

Sessions typically start with a review of the questionnaire analysis, followed by an interactive discussion of how to manage the interaction to get to win/win/win (yours/the reporter’s/the audience’s). This discussion includes what the participant needs to do to perform successfully and what the media will be doing to get the best story they can.

The practice component will follow the discussion and typically include two interviews on the scenario provided. The interviews are recorded and replayed for critique of the content and performance elements. Further technique information is provided during the critique.

Finally, instruction is given on how to replicate the best of the performance in any style of interview (e.g., phone, in-studio, remote camera, print face-to-face, panel).

Session Length

Typical one-on-one or small group (3 participants) sessions are 3 to 4 hours.